WW2 deaths from disease: George Edward Dunlop, David Purdon McGavin, James Duncan Beaton Shaw

George Edward Dunlop

George was born in 1920 in Betws garmon, Caernarvon.  His father William, was a representative for a shoe manufacturer (on George's Baptism record: “boot salesman”)  His mother was Harriet Hewitt Croucher.

By 1935 the family moved to Scotland, living at a house called Westbury, 1 Afton Crescent, Killermont, Bearsden.  

From 1939 to 1941 George attended Glasgow University in the Arts Faculty.

George enlisted and was a Signalman in the Royal Signal Corps, stationed in India.  On 3rd March 1945 he died in hospital in New Delhi.

He is buried in Delhi War Cemetery.  On his headstone, his parents chose the words:

"THE ETERNAL GOD IS THY REFUGE AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS" 



David Purdon McGavin

We know very little about David Purdon McGavin.  He was born on 19th August 1907 at 97 Stratford Street, Maryhill - in today's terms it is by the car park behind the Tesco store.

I've covered this street already in my post on Gilbert Neilson who was born five years later at number 35 (link).  His father, Peter, was a post office sorting clerk, his mother was Ella Jane Purdon.

His father was in the army in WW1, now a telegraphist for the Post Office, so he was transferred to signals

David married on 17th September 1937 at the Grand Hotel, Glasgow - I've covered this in a previous post (link).  Of course, this was at Charing Cross but was demolished to make way for the M8 motorway.

He married Joanna Fell McBride, age 27, a clerk of 1 Cresswell Terrace, Uddingston


David's address was 90 Baldwin Avenue, Knightswood

The couple moved into 48 Stirling Avenue, Westerton.  When the second world war started, David joined the RAF and in 1943 was stationed at Flight Training Command (one source says 5 Wing but the command seems to be arranged in groups so I am not certain about this.)

On 17th March 1943 he was to the RAF Military Hospital, Hereford with pneumonia.  He died on 31st March 1943 and is buried in New Kilpatrick Cemetery.


James Duncan Beaton Shaw

James ('Hamish') was born on 4th January 1913 at 5 Wood Street, Dennistoun.  His father, Duncan, was a drapery buyer, and had married James's mother, Margaret Clapperton Steel Craig, in 1912.

I can find very little about James's life other than that on 6th June 1939 he married Margaret ('Peggy') Davidson Buchanan, age 21 and a typist living at 10 Striven Gardens, Kelvinbridge.

His occupation at the time was salesman at a gentleman’s outfitter, and he lived with his family at 50 Spires Road, Bearsden.

In the Second World War he was in the RAFVR as a sergeant at 1 Personnel Holding Unit, Technical Training Command based at Innsworth, Gloucestershire.

Around 30th November 1945, possibly while home on leave, he suffered a perforated ulcer (of the stomach?).  He was taken to Cowglen Military Hospital where peritonitis was diagnosed on 18th December 1945 and he died the following day.

He is buried in New Kilpatrick Cemetery.




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